Friday, July 31, 2015

Nasi 7 Benua, Koo Boo Kafe @ Sungai Ara, Penang.

People are always attracted to colorful stuff and colors are definitely a very good way to market a product. Koo Boo Kafe marketed their Nasi Kandar well by introducing "Nasi 7 Benua", which literally representing the 7 continents of the world. Natural coloring and flavors are used, expect to see White Rice/ Nasi Putih, Fragrant Rice/ Nasi Lemak, Tomato Rice/ Nasi Tomato, Herbed Rice/ Nasi Lemuni, Peanut Rice/ Nasi Kacang, Buttered Rice/ Nasi Minyak and Spicy Buttered Rice/ Nasi Hujan Panas. The place was thronged by a massive crowd some time back but there was not a need to queue on my visit. The place has since refurbished and it is now a clean and comfortable place to dine in. Finding the place might be a little tricky for the uninitiated, drive along Jalan Dr. Tun Awang from Penang International Airport towards Bukit Jambul via sPICE, Koo Boo Kafe should be on your left, opposite to sPICE.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Easy Brew Cafe @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

A new place that Coffee connoisseurs might want to visit, Easy Brew Cafe gathers Coffee Beans from different parts of the world. It roasts its own Coffee beans as well; the place however, serves no food (on our visit). Step in the place and you will be caught in a whiff of Coffee aroma followed by an amazing sight of their al-fresco garden seating. Almost like an adult playground, it has swings, garden tents with white furniture; a romantic and possibly an Instagram-perfect place. It gets a little warm in afternoon so the best time to visit would be sometime between 4 pm to 6 pm. Not the ideal place for dessert maniacs but possibly a good place for a sip of Coffee. Easy Brew Cafe can be found two doors away from China House, along Beach Street (near to the famous mural at Armenian Street).


Coffee Soft Serve Ice Cream (Rm 3.50)

Monday, July 27, 2015

Artichoke Cafe @ Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

Another new addition to the exciting cafe scene at Butterworth- Artichoke Cafe, is not an ordinary cafe next door. It does have something solid and sturdy to offer. The place has an interesting array of Brunch items to offer (but be mindful that it serves brunch items until 2:30 pm only) as well as some carefully curated mains and desserts. We wondered why was the cafe named Artichoke since the menu has got nothing to do with the spiky green and we were informed that the initial plan was to incorporate Artichokes into their menu but the difficulty in sourcing the vegetable is one of the hindrances. The interior decor is simple and unpretentious, with its wallet-friendly price tags; this is one of the few places that you can visit for your regular meals at Butterworth. To find Artichoke Cafe, locate Coffee Venture and Marlons +Co.; Artichoke Cafe is within walking distance from the aforementioned cafes. 

Friday, July 24, 2015

Tin83 Cafe @ Cantonment Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

It comes as no surprise to me when a cafe serves Western menu but Wanton Mee certainly does not come across my mind when it comes to a cafe. Opened for business on 14 July 2015, Tin83 Cafe defies the conventional menu in cafe. It has the hipstery interior decor- hanging light bulbs, fully air-conditioned, coffee machines. In case you are wondering, Tin83 serves Wanton Mee only at present (though they come in different variations- Pork Ribs, Traditional etc). Prices are more than affordable, though inevitably higher than hawkers' standard. Finding a place to park can be a little tricky in that district, especially for lunch hours. Tin83 Cafe is located at Cantonment Road, right beside Bank of China and opposite to Maybank/ Public Bank Cantonment Road.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Journey 2 Life (旅人) @ Bay Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Vegetarian food is not interesting, vegetarian food is all about mock meat or greens.... you may often hear these lines (or think like them) but you may want to think again after visiting Journey 2 Life at Bay Avenue. Not only specializes in serving vegetarian food, the restaurant looks into healthy vegetarian food as well. Walk into the restaurant and you will find many posters promoting healthy campaigns on the walls, as well as brochures educating the public on Chinese Food Therapy. The place has a rather unique setting- in shades of wooden beam while the hanging light bulbs produce warm and soft light, exuding a harmonized melody to the dining area. The menu covers Starters, Entrees, Mains and even desserts; all reasonably priced by Penang standard. Journey 2 Life is right next to My Voice Cafe (Big Bowl Ramen) at Bay Avenue. 

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Salon Du Chocolat @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Many chocolate lovers' wish is finally answered with the new opening of Salon Du Chocolat at the iconic Festive Square (Ground Floor) of Gurney Paragon Mall. The Hong Kong-based brand is not new for those in the know; Salon Du Chocolat is well-known for serving premium and fine Chocolate desserts as well as their home-made Pralines and Chocolate bites. The place has a minimal yet elegant interior decor- comfortable and snug. Step in the cafe and your attention will likely be drawn away by the three Chocolate fountain right next to the main entrance where one gets to witness the silky smooth, creamy and glistening Chocolate. The sizable menu has many desserts covered but they share one common appearance- heavily slathered by Chocolate syrup. It can be quite glutted for one to finish a chocolate dessert entirely on his/her own so it is advisable to visit the place in a group... for sharing the guilt; it is not the place that you want to have your regular meal fixed but a great place for a cocoa-rific experience to sate your cravings. 


Friday, July 17, 2015

Wakaba Japanese Noodles @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Wakaba, a new establishment that touts itself as the Japanese noodle-specialists, has opened its doors to the public recently. The Japanese noodle restaurant makes its own noodles and they specialized in serving Ramen. The place has the standard Japanese restaurant setting but the servers need to be trained. The restaurant employs foreign workers; there seems to be a language barrier between customers and servers. They did not manage to understand our needs and answer to our questions promptly. Service was bad on our visit- we were served undercooked Gyoza (with raw Pork filling inside), the foreign server did not know what to do but to offer us an exchange which we gladly accepted. The second serving of Gyoza was no different from the first one; it was apparent that the person in charge heard of our conversation but he has chosen to be ignorant and did not offer to assist. Extremely poor management. Nonetheless, their Ramen did manage to impress us but apart from that (to be fair to Wakaba), nothing is exciting here. 

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Moulmein Gourmet @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

The bustling neighborhood of Moulmein at Pulau Tikus welcomes a new establishment, that sets to offer a small but homey, unpretentious Western fare. Expect no groundbreaking-menu but some familiar Western dishes that can be accepted by all age-range, such as Aglio Olio, Chicken Chop etc. Prices are fair but the selection may be overly safe for the adventurous. The menu did not manage to surprise us, so as the interior decor. There were some knit-knacks adorning the walls but we thought they were immaterial and not worth a mention here. Moulmein Gourmet serves Modern Dim Sum in the morning, Japanese-Fusion Set for lunch and Western menu in the evening. Prices quoted on the menu are based on set-orders, minus Rm 3 for ala-carte orders. 

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Bistronomie Dining Menu [Bibis Cafe] @ Kelawai Road, Penang.

Back to Bibis Cafe at Kelawai Road, one of the early cafe-trend-setter has rolled out their Bistronomie Dining Menu lately. The cafe welcomes a very talented, passionate young Chef whom honed his culinary skills overseas. The dinner menu is available from 6: 30 pm to 10 pm on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The cafe establishes a fully-developed menu, though not comprehensive; diners do have a choice to make it a set dinner by simply adding Rm 20 nett to the ala-carte order. While there were merely heavy decorative elements that could potentially up the dining ante, their carefully developed and sturdy menu seems to be the pulling factor for one to visit.

Many Thanks to Bibis Cafe for hosting us that evening. 

Monday, July 13, 2015

Iyara Thai Cuisine @ Automall, Karpal Singh Drive, Penang.

Ardent fans of Thai food need not to take an arduous journey out of town just to find a decent Thai restaurant. Iyara is a new Thai establishment housed in Automall, Karpal Singh Drive. It is a simple, homey space with uncomplicated Thai-influenced setting. The place has a clear and straight-forward menu; not the fancy Thai-seafood menu but rather, traditional and authentic Thai delicacies and desserts. A place most suitable for family dine out. 

*A reader of mine shared her experience with me: she ordered the same Cendol but it was served differently- the portion was a huge difference. It appears that there might be a tendency of inconsistencies in Iyara.*

Friday, July 10, 2015

Maxim Dim Sum (美食之家) @ Komtar Walk, Georgetown, Penang.

One of the famous brands for Dim Sum in Penang- Maxim Dim Sum (美食之家) has extended its business operations lately; opening a new branch at a place where time has forgotten- Komtar Walk, taking up the prominent corner lot there. Similar to most of its branches, the branch here at Komtar Walk serves both Dim Sum dishes and made-to-order Stir Fry dishes as well. The place has exactly the same setting just like any other Maxim branches but the strategic location in the heartland of Georgetown adds a delightful joy, where diners can slowly enjoy the Dim Sum dishes, sipping on the hot Chinese Tea and watching the cars driving past the bustling Penang Road. 


Steamed Fish Balls


Prawn Dumplings/ Har Kaw

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Keopi Hauseu @ Chime Heritage, Georgetown, Penang.

We could tell that some cafes are striving hard to serve something different and unique than its competitors but they need to work harder and to be more creative. Keopi Hauseu touts itself as a Korean cafe, in which the cafe will roll out Korean-influenced dishes. Full menu was not ready on our visit, we did not manage to try any of their Korean-influenced dishes, rather, the conventional cafe fare. As much as we love the homely interior decor of the place, we thought that they would need to further improve on their existing menu. However, given that the place was still new on our visit, it is still worth a second look. 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

K Food Korean Restaurant @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Well-welcomed by the younger generation in Penang, Korean restaurants are a dime of dozen now on the island but it is not uncommon to put a dent on the wallet if you wish to dine in a proper Korean restaurant. Budget-conscious diners can now enjoy Korean delicacies at a cut-rate at the newly opened restaurant at Elit Avenue (main starts from Rm 10 per order). It does not offer any Barbecue or Hot Pot menu but an uncomplicated, unassuming menu presenting an array of Korean delicacies, at unbeatable prices. No sophisticated setting, no heavy elements in decorations, no elegant tables and chairs; not the perfect romantic place for your date but rather, a place to please your Korean appetite. We managed to try a few dishes and most of them did manage to meet our expectations. 

Monday, July 6, 2015

Laksalicious @ Hutton Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Talk about Assam Laksa and Penangites will be fired up; every Penangite has his/her very own favorite stall. The most common answers to their favorite stalls will be Air Hitam Assam Laksa, Balik Pulau Assam Laksa, PCGS Assam Laksa etc. A Laksa specialist- Laksalicious, strives to serve one of the best Assam Laksas in Penang... with their very own unique touch has opened its doors to the public lately. The place has a cozy setting, portraying as an upscale place that serves Assam Laksa; might chase away those with budget constraints but rest-assured, prices are very reasonable in the context of Penang. The menu is somewhat insubstantial but the management is rolling out new items real soon. Laksalicious can be found at Hutton Lane, a stone's throw distance away Sunflower Cake House and Hutton Mansion Wine Haus.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Grand Opening of Honey Creme Soft Serve Ice Cream @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

Those with a sweet tooth can now satiate their sweet cravings by having a cup of Honey Creme's Soft Serve Ice Cream along with their grand opening on 4th July 2015. The Ice Cream parlor debuts its inaugural appearance this Saturday, at lower ground floor of Gurney Plaza Penang. The brand has many branches outside of Malaysia- Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Indonesia but the newly opened branch at Gurney Plaza is the first branch in the country. The brand believes in using premium quality ingredients, including but not limited to its Milk, Honey Comb and various healthy organic toppings. Those with stubborn sweet tooth could go for the safer options such as their signature Honey Comb Soft Serve or Affogato Soft Serve; while the adventurous ones could go for some playful and frisky combination such as Organic Cotton Candy Affogato. Honey Creme is having its opening promotion- Buy 1 Free 1 on 4th July (Saturday) and 5th July 2015 (Sunday).

Many Thanks to Honey Creme Malaysia for hosting us that evening.


Organic Cotton Candy Affogato Soft Serve Ice Cream (Rm 14.50/ Cup)

Tokyo Kitchen @ Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Tokyo Kitchen has since ceased its business operations.

Icon City is a newly developed area at Bukit Mertajam, located strategically near to Autocity, Juru. The commercial district sees a new spate of tenants moving in, including one of the famous franchise chain- Tokyo Kitchen. As the name might have suggested, Tokyo Kitchen specializes in serving Japanese food. The restaurant is beautifully and appropriately decorated according to the theme; hanging Japanese lanterns, wooden tables and chairs, Japanese drawing adorning the wall; the harmonized combination exudes a "zen" experience. The restaurant has a bible-thick menu, which covers an extensive range of Japanese delights. Not a place that I would go all out to visit but if you are in the vicinity, the place is worth a look. 

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Frank Laurent Coffee Roasters @ Udini Square, Gelugor, Penang.

Somewhere relatively quieter from the buzz of town, Udini Square is a new commercial building right next to Tesco E-Gate. The building is somewhat vacant at present but a new spate of tenants (particularly F&B) has moved in. Frank Laurent Coffee Roasters occupies one of the most prominent lots at Udini Square, facing the bustling road of Lebuh Tunku Kudin. Visit the place on a day time and you will find it brightly lit, thanks to the glass window which allows the natural sunlight floods in; the place is spacious and exudes a harmonious aura. It has some characteristics of being a hipster cafe, mainly due to its contemporary interior decor and seemingly Instagram-perfect furniture. The place was quite new on our visit (a couple weeks back), they did not have much to offer back then but one thing that is for sure, their prices are very down to earth; the type of cafe that one would spend a whole afternoon chit-chatting with each other.